Circuit-controlling device.



P. KASTNER. CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE. APPLIQATiQN FILED IEB.17, 1908.

Patented June 4, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WZTNESSES' 1.5, T A mM/W DJ E TNEFL P. KA STNER CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED P13311190" Patented June 4, 1912 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ff l ENTQR KASTNEH. BY .,j 1

FRANZ A TT? WITNESSES "out an A COR-FORATIO'N 033 NEW 'YGRK.

GIB GUI'BUON'IROLLING' DEVICE.

Specification of iletters Patent.

' Patented June at, 1912..

Application filed February raises. Serial in. 416,242.

resistancedevices may be operated and con trolled to atiect the circuit in a. reliable, simple and QillClQIlb manner.

My invention relates more specifically to devices for controlling circuits containing a plurality of translating devices, such for in stance as lamps.

My invention finds a specific application in stage lighting in which a number or" lighting circuits are to be controlled either independently or in unison from a remote point. Ithas been the practice heretofore in devices of this sort, which are commonly known as theater dimmers, to employ a com mon driving shaft to which the regulating levers are connected. In order to disconnect one of these levers from the shaft it must necessarily be done with one hand while the other hand operates the main drive shaft. Usually moreover the levers are so situated that the stage or part of the theater, which is lighted, cannot be seen and it is therefore ditficult to arrange the lights in a satisfactory manner.

One oi the objects of my nvention is to make it possible to connect and disconnect the operating levers by a magnetic device controlled by push buttonsl These push buttons may be arranged at a convenient point in proximity to the operating. handle of the main driving shaft so that the operation will be performed in a very. simple manner.

i In the accompanying drawings in which I have shown my invention embodied in concrete form, Figure l is a front elevation ofniy device showing the circuit connections; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the operating mechanism; and Fig. 3 is an end el vation of the same, partly in section.

In Fig. 1, I have shown only one lighting circuit but it should be anderstoo that do this merely for purposes since anylnumber may c made to the arm by means of a segment 1 desirable. In this figure lo I regulator of any well known type comprising a resistance 11 connected to studs 12 and a controlling arm 13 operated by means of a wheel or sheave 14. Circuit connection is with which the arm makes contact atl' The particular type of rheostat or regulator,

however, forms no part of my invent-ion, and may be of any desired type. The operating mechanism for this rheostat is located Edi 1 remote point and operates the rheostat by, means of a rope or, cable 17 passing over the shaft 14 and driveh'by the sheave 18. ijihis sheave 18 is one of a number m nnted loosely upon a common drive shaft- Id and flared outward as shown so as to receive the :clutch mechanism on its inner. side. clutch member or disk 20is keyed'to the shaft adjacent the hub of the sheave and has a fiatface adapted to be engaged by rollers 21 and 22. These rollers normally rest upon the face of the wheel 20 and'are pressed apart by means of aspring 28 mounted on a projection 2-1 on the wheel. At a pointadjacent the rollers the wheel is provided with beveled surfaces 25 and 26, which projectdownward so as to engage the rollers as shown. The arrangement is thus such that if the disk is turned in one direction, roller 21 will be wedged between'the surface 25 and the surface of the disk 26 and act as adriving member between the dish and the wheel, while if the disk is turned in the opposite direction, ellBiOllQl" 22 will perform a similar function. ratchet wheel 27 is loosely mounted upon the shaft- 19 and has pivoted thereto at 28 and 29, respectively, the two levers 30 and Si. constituting an operating handle. .These levers are bent around therollers and beveled surfaces as shown, and their outer ends are spaced apart by means of springs 32 and 33 mounted atthe outer end of a projection on the handle. The ratchet wheel is adapted to be engaged and locked in place by means of a lever 3 pivoted at 35 to a bracket 86. The lever is provided at one end with teeth 37 which are adapted to lock the ratchet wheel in place while the opposite end is formed. into an armature coiiperating with the electromagnetic device 38. When the magnet is energised the ratchet wheel will be locked, and when it is denergized .a spring will Withdraw the toothed arm and release the ratchet wheel. Any number of these operating mechanisms may be arranged upon the shaft depending upon the number of cireuits to be controlled.

The mode of operation of my device is as follows: When the shaft 19 is turned in any manner,'as for instance by means of the hand wheel 40, all of the operating mechanisms mounted upon the shaft will normally operate since each disk 20 will be locked to its corresponding sheave in the manner above described. As the sheave revolves, the operating levers 30 and 31 will be carried with it since they are connected to the disk through the springs 32 and 33 and the rollers 2t and 22. In this way all of the rheostats will be operated together. It, however it is desired to stop the operation of one of the rheostats, it may be done by pressing a button ll, which will energize magnet 38 and stop the movement of the ratchet wheel 27. This will immediately force one of the rollers or 23, dependingupon the direction of rotation, into contact with its corresponding lug or 43 and force it out of its wedged position between the disk and the heveled surface to stop the operation oi the shaft. In the meantime the other rheostats may be regulated as before. If it is desired to operate any one or the rheostats alone, itmay be done by grasping the levers 3-0 and 31. which upon being pressed together will force both rollers 21 and 22 out of engagement with the disk and the sheave may then be operated. 'While I have de scribed my invention as embodying certain structural features, it should be understood that I do not limit my invention to the construction or arrangement of parts shown and described except in so far as it is limited by the scope of the claims annexed hereto. ,i What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,-

1. The combination with a plurality of rheostats, of a drive shaft, operating mechanisnis for Solid rheostats arranged to be driven by said shaft, means whereby each operating mechanism is clutched to the drive shaft by a relative movement in either direction between the mechanisn'i and the shaft, and means for causing said relative movement.

2. The combination with a plurality of rheostats', of a drive shaft, operating mechanisms for said rheostats arranged to be driven by said shaft, means whereby each operating mechanism is clutchedto the shaft by a relative movement in either direction between the mechanism and the shatt'and means whereby the mechanism and the shattare uuclutcbed by stopping the movement of the operating mechanism.

3, The combination with a plurality of rheostats. ot a drive shat, operating" rnech anisms for said rheostats arranged to be driven by said shaft means whereby each operating mechanism is clutched to the shaft by a relative movement in either three-tum between the im-chanism and the shaft, means whereby the mechanism and the shaft are unclutched by stoppin "the movement of the operating meclmuism, and electrically controlled means for stopping the movement.

4. The cmnbination-with a plurality of rheostats, of a drive shaft therefor provided with a friction disk for each rheostat, operating mechanism for said rheostats each including a pair of friction rollers for locking the disks to the operating l'l't@Ci1:1l Sl]1 upon the rotation of the disk in either direction. and means for rotating said disks.

5, The combination with a plurality of rheos'tats, ot a drive shaft, operating mechanisms for said rheostats arranged to be driven by said shaft ach comprising a clutch member secured to the shaft, a second member having driving connections with a rheostat, means whereby said members are clutched together by a relative movement between them and an ,electromaenetieallycontrolled mechanism for unclutching said members.

6. The combination with a plurality of rheostats of a drive haft therefor provided with a friction the for each rheostat, operating mechanisms for said rl'ieostats each ineludinga pair of friction rollers for locking the operating mechanism to the disk.

upon a movement of the latter in either direction, means whereby the locking roller is released from the disk by stopping the movement of the operating mechanism, and electrically controlled means for stopping said movement.

7. The combination with a plurality of rheostats. of a drive shat't, operating mechanisms for said rheostats arranged to be driven by said shaft each comp "iSlDQ a clutch member secured to the shaft. a second member having driving connections with the rheostat, means whereby said members are clutched together by a relative movement between them, an operating ham die {or each of said rheostats, means whereby a relative nun-'cment between said handle and said memliers disconnects the same, and. an clectromagne 'ic device for causing a rel ative u'iovement. I

he combination with a rheostat, of an actuating mechanism therefor comprising a drive shalt. a clutch member secured there to, a second member having driving connections with the rheostat an operatinr handle !lt \'2ll)lt% independently of said members, means whereby re ative movement between said handle and said members ettects the driving connection between the memhers and an loctromao'uetic device for causing a relative movement.

ipeenee 9. T he combination with :1 rheostet, of an actuat ng mechanism therefor comprising a drive shaft, :1 oiuteh member secured thereto, a second member having driving conneetions with the rheostat, means whereby said members are clutched together by a relative movement i'ietween them, an element normally movable with the shaft,'meens Whereby said element eti'ects a disengagement of said members when. its movement is stopped,

and an electromagnetic device for stopping.

movement of the. element.

10. The combination with a rheostat, or an actuating mechanism there-tor compr1sing a drive shaft, 2 ciuteh member secured thereto a second member having drivine J e. 3

FRANZ KAS'ENER. Witnesses:

JULIUS BUMLAND, KARL BREKEBEN. 

